If you haven’t already, I recommend looking at the various organizations I have posted on a separate page. Although the idea of prison abolition may sound radical there are large numbers of people who have been working on this diligently for their entire lives. This is not a new issue but it is beginning to get more noticed, and I think that with more awareness this is something that could become a reality in my lifetime.
As Ms. Davis says “Our most difficult and urgent challenge to date is that of creatively exploring new terrains of justice where the prison no longer serves as our major anchor.” Oftentimes when we look at very large issues we can get overwhelmed and feel like success is impossible. But if we consider all of the progressive victories of the last few decades I think that popular opinion can be quick to change once people see human suffering. I think that our prison systems remain atrocious because they are hidden from view, often tucked away in small cities, and the people that work there often rely on the prison as the only gainful employment in the area. If more people are willing to consider the idea of a world without prisons, and the idea that “criminals” isn’t a way to describe another human being, I think that someone can come up with a creative solution. This isn’t a problem that’s going to be solved by one person and I understand that often people have very emotional reactions, especially if they have been the victims of a violent crime. However if we are going to make big transformational change in this country then we need to first convince people that there is a problem that needs fixing.
No New Jails NYC is a terrific organization that we can all take inspiration from. It started recently after Kalief Browder tragically died in Rikers in 2015. Their mission is twofold, first, stop NYC from planning, or constructing any new prisons and to use that money more efficiently in communities that need the support. And secondly to make decarceration a focal point of all communities in NYC. This is a small grassroots organization that started after a tragedy and has become a self sustaining powerhouse that has influenced public policy over the last five years. My hope is that every city in the country could create a No New Jails organization so that this would become a new normal for city planning. I think this is the creative plan that Ms. Davis said we are often lacking. It has simple steps, but requires a tremendous amount of dedication. It’s difficult but the rewards would mean a more just country, a more equitable country and a country where you aren’t ripped away from your family if you can’t afford bail. I think the only way prison abolition becomes a reality is if people all across the country rally together to focus on making sure that their cities stop making new detention centers of all kinds, and then work to decarcerate communities.
What I plan on doing moving forward is being more involved with the “No New Youth Jail” movement that was taking place in Seattle, even if excitement for this seems to have stalled out I’m hoping that I’ll meet more like minded people and find other ways to be helpful.
Prison Abolition 